Blog Posts in June, 2010

Extraterritorial Stop/Arrest Result in Reversal of Drunk Driving Conviction

In its June 22, 2010 decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed the guilty verdict imposed by a Superior Court Jury which found the defendant "guilty of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle after revocation of his license. The same Jury found the Defendant guilty of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, ...

Road Rage = Crime

As reported in the June 16, 2010 Providence Journal, two men were involved in a "road rage" incident, which led to criminal charges. Both men have been charged with simple assault because of an altercation on the side of the road. The incident started when one man allegedly cut off the other. They then drove next to each other, cutting each other off and eventually pulled over on the side of Route ...

Police Arrest Their Own on Drug Charges

As reported by W. Zachary Malinowski, Amanda Milkovits and Tracey Breton in the June 10, 2010 Providence Journal and Kate Bramson in the June 15, 2010 Providence Journal, four police officers and one corrections officer were indicted on drug charges. These new indictments are all part of the undercover operation known as Operation Deception, organized by the Rhode Island State Police. The original ...

New Expungement Bill Approved

As reported by Katherine Gregg in the June 3, 2010 Providence Journal, the Rhode Island House voted to approve the proposed expungement bill. Under current Rhode Island law, first time offenders are allowed to permanently seal their records after a certain period of time has passed, if they met certain statutory requirements. The new bill would affect people who are given deferred sentences. A ...

Sex Offender Commits New Crime

As reported by Tatiana Pina in the May 27, 2010 Providence Journal, a Providence sex offender was charged with three new crimes, felony assault, breaking and entering and failure to notify the police of a change of address. He broke into a woman's apartment and pulled out a knife. The woman was able to defend herself and then forced the sex offender to leave her apartment. The man was labeled a ...